Five Designers to Watch in 2016

The Central St Martins MA show is one of the highlights in my diary for London Fashion Week; as a (relatively) recent graduate myself, I know first hand how much blood, sweat and tears (also see: tantrums, throwing of scissors, sleepless nights) goes into creating your final showcase as a student! Now as an editor here at WGSN, there’s nothing quite like seeing a new breed of talent emerging in front of your eyes. The LFW talent showcase from CSM did not disappoint – here’s my picks of the ones to watch from the show.

1. AMELIE BELUZE

Minimalism is an aesthetic high on my agenda, so Amelie Beluze’s knitwear collection had my pulse racing. Softly deconstructed, just the right amount of sheer and quietly seductive, Beluze’s name deserves to be commonplace in the industry.

Womenswear graduate, Siiri Raasakka has a modern handwriting with a romantic, sartorial appeal. Structured cotton gave shape to cocooning silhouettes paired with gently draped crepe trousers and fluid skirts. Her masterful lines and modern structures made the collection instantly covetable.

4. JOHN ALEXANDER SKELTON. ( JOINT L’OREAL PRIZE WINNER)

The exquisite collection from John Alexander Skelton stood for all things sustainability, a value which is a hot topic both here at WGSN and in the industry as a whole. Skelton’s line up came made from entirely sustainable sources, cottons were repurposed from his grandmothers bedsheets, while overcoats came cut in sustainably sourced, wool woven in traditional factories in the north of England. An ethical collection which didn’t loose its luxury appeal.

5. HARRY EVANS (JOINT L’OREAL PRIZE WINNER)

Knitwear designer, Harry Evans wanted to break the mould with his line up of “genderless” pieces, “I don’t see myself in a lot of the menswear that is out there, so I wanted to create a collection that felt personal to me by basing it on my own style” he said backstage. The designer referenced everything from 80’s couture and urban streetwear. Inspired by the insides of the iconic Chanel jackets, he interpreted his own versions, hand crocheting and hand stitching onto backing fabrics, creating innovative new textures.